Method and system for changing software or firmware on an electronic device

• US 9,128,795 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Nijenkamp, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): TECKLU, ISAAC TUKU
• Application Number:
  US13/518,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20120311555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for updating software or firmware or otherwise conveying target software to an electronic device. Target software may be conveyed while the device is packaged or otherwise not connected to external power. Information indicating a current software or firmware version number may be transmitted from an external transceiver to the packaged device. A software update may also be transmitted to the packaged device. The electronic device may use stored information or the stored software update to replace an older and out-of-date software version. The electronic device may also harvest electronic power from an external transceiver signal or may use power from an internal battery source to affect a software update when the device is packaged or otherwise not connected to external power.

Claims

1. A method of conveying a software change to an electronic product having a memory, the method comprising:

sending an interrogation transmission from a transceiver to the electronic product, the electronic product being unconnected to an external power source;

receiving a reply transmission from the electronic product, the electronic product harvesting power from the interrogation transmission for use in at least sending the reply transmission, the reply transmission including an identification for software currently installed on the electronic product;

comparing the identification for the software currently installed on the electronic product to an identification for a target software version to determine if the electronic product requires a software change; and

if the electronic product requires a software change, then sending a software change transmission from the transceiver to the electronic product, wherein the software change transmission sets a flag in the memory of the electronic product, the flag indicating that the software on the electronic product is out of date;

wherein the electronic product is enclosed within a packaging that includes a marking visible on a surface of the packaging, the marking approximately indicating the location of a reflected power transceiver portion of the electronic product, and the operation of sending the interrogation transmission includes directing the transmission towards the marking visible on the surface of the packaging.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the software change transmission includes an electronic key that operates to unlock a software component installed on the electronic product, the software component implementing a function that was unavailable before the software change transmission was received.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when the electronic product is powered up, the electronic device checks the flag set in memory and retrieves a software update if the flag is set.

4. A method of changing software on an electronic product having a memory, wherein the electronic product is enclosed in a packaging having a marking approximately indicating a location of a reflected power transceiver portion of the electronic product, the method comprising:

receiving an interrogation transmission from an external transceiver at the electronic product, the electronic product being unconnected to an external power source, the interrogation transmission being received at the reflected power transceiver portion of the electronic product after being directed at the marking on the packaging of the electronic product;

sending a reply transmission from the reflected power transmission transceiver, the reply transmission including an identification for software currently installed on the electronic product;

after the electronic product is connected to the external power source, receiving a software change transmission by the reflected power transceiver from the external transceiver;

storing data from the software change transmission in a memory associated with the reflected power transceiver; and

in response to the software change transmission, setting a flag in the memory of the electronic product, the flag indicating that the software on the electronic product is out of date.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

harvesting power, by the reflected power transceiver, from the interrogation transmission for use in at least sending the reply transmission.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

providing power to the electronic product from the reflected power transceiver; and

retrieving the identification for the software currently installed on the electronic product from the memory of the electronic product.

7. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the data from the software change transmission includes target software information and subsequent to the operation of storing the software update in the memory associated with the reflected power transceiver, the electronic product is connected to an external power source, the method further comprising:

retrieving the target software information from the memory associated with the reflected power transceiver by a processor of the electronic product; and

sending a transmission across a network, the network transmission requesting the target software.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

receiving the target software at the electronic product from a network transaction sent across the network or from a satellite signal received at the electronic product.

9. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein subsequent to the operation of storing the target software in the memory associated with the reflected power transceiver, the electronic product is connected to an external power source, the method further comprising:

retrieving the target software from a network service if the flag is set; and

installing the target software in a system memory of the electronic product.

10. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the data from the software change transmission includes target software, the method further comprising:

providing power to the electronic product from the reflected power transceiver; and

installing the target software in a system memory of the electronic product.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the power provided to the electronic product is harvested from an incident electromagnetic wave received at the reflected power transceiver or is from a battery associated with the reflected power transceiver.

12. An electronic device that is delivered within removable packaging, the electronic device comprising:

an interface to an external power source;

a reflected power transceiver configured to receive an interrogation transmission from an external transceiver even when the electronic device is within the removable packaging, and to respond to the interrogation transmission even when the external power source is within the removable packaging and is not connected to the electronic device, wherein the external transceiver processes the response to the interrogation transceiver to determine whether a software update is available for the electronic device and, if the software update is available for the electronic device, the reflected power transceiver is configured to receive a subsequent response message from the external transceiver even while the electronic device is within the removable packaging, wherein the subsequent response message sets a flag in a memory without powering up the electronic device, the flag in the memory indicating that the software on the electronic device is out of date; and

a processor configured to check the memory at a later time after the electronic device is removed from the packaging and connected to the external power source, to determine that the software update is available based upon whether the flag is set, and to obtain the software update if the flag is set.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 wherein the device further comprises a network interface to a digital communications network, and wherein the processor is configured to obtain the software update from a remote service via the digital communications network.

14. The electronic device of claim 12 wherein the processor obtains the software update via the reflected power transceiver.

15. The electronic device of claim 12 wherein the processor obtains the software update from the memory.